Taoiseach recalls a statesman of unshakeable integrity and moral conviction who led Ireland with distinction

STATE FUNERAL OF FORMER TAOISEACH, JOHN BRUTON

John Bruton's funeral afforded an opportunity to pay tribute to a statesman of unshakeable integrity and moral conviction who led our country with distinction at home and on the world stage, the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar said in a graveside oration for the former Meath TD in Dunboyne on Saturday afternooon.

Using the theme of faith, hope and love from St Paul to the Corinthians, he said John Bruton’s life was defined by love – love of family, love of county, love of politics, love of our party, love of country.

Mr Varadkar said the centre of Mr Bruton's life was Finola, and their children Matthew, Juliana, Emily and Mary-Elizabeth.

“Later, he found so much love and joy with his grandchildren, Ophelia, Hugo, Oliver and Robin.  We offer you our deepest condolences, and also extend them to his brother Richard, our colleague and friend, and his sister Mary,” he continued.

The Taoiseach joined President Michael D Higgins, Government colleagues, the Diplomatic Corp, church leaders and the people of Dunboyne and Meath, as well as the Bruton family, for State Funeral to bid farewell to the former Taoiseach who died on Tuesday of last week, aged 76, following a long illness. The attendance also included the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Michelle O'Neill of Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party's Emma Little-Pengelly.

“John loved Meath,” Mr Varadkar continued. “He was grounded in the land around us.  He understood farmers - small and large - and cared deeply about the future of rural Ireland as an early proponent of balanced regional development. He loved politics and believed it was the best way to achieve real and lasting change for the good.”

Mr Varadkar said that in 1999 he was thrilled to receive a phone call from him when I was running in his first election.

“It meant a lot at the time, but it meant even more when he called a second time after he heard I hadn’t been elected, encouraging me to stay involved and to stay the course. He told me – Your time will come, don’t give up, fall forward.

“John was an inspiration to me throughout my career.  There was so much that I looked to his example for guidance, including how it was possible to lead a three-party Government successfully and to keep it together.

Two years ago, I invited him to speak at our Party Think-In in Trim and was delighted he accepted.  All of us gathered there were inspired by his reminder that while other parties might suffer from an identity crisis from time to time, that wasn’t a problem for us.  We were the party that founded the State and would always stand by it and its citizens.

John loved Ireland, and it was a real love, not defined by dislike or fear of others, but by a genuine love of our country and what we could be. It was a noble, true and modern patriotism.

“When others sullied our flag by carrying out terrorist atrocities in its name, John was a beacon of courage and integrity who offered a vision of an inclusive and peaceful island.

He had seen close-up the devastating effects of The Troubles when Senator Billy Fox, who had shared an office with him in Leinster House, was murdered in his farmhouse in Co Monaghan in 1974. This only made him more determined to bring about an end to violence, and find a just and lasting solution.

“In the framework document that he negotiated with the British Prime Minister John Major, we see many elements of what later became the Good Friday Agreement. He reached out to the unionist community because he genuinely believed that this should be a shared island in which all identities would be respected and accepted. John was a man of hope.  He believed we could create a fairer, more peaceful, and more prosperous future for us all.”

The Taoiseach said Mr Bruton was a man of faith.

“He had faith in politics and faith in people. believed that working together we could change the world and achieve anything.  He had faith in the European Union, as the greatest example of international co-operation and peace, and served with distinction as its Ambassador to the United States.  He saw it as a way of taking our place among the nations of the world, and achieving our destiny as a free and independent country.

“John had a deep personal faith, and it taught him the power of forgiveness and the importance of compassion.  We saw that compassion in action as he helped navigate the country through some transformative changes as Taoiseach, changes which helped make Ireland a kinder and better country.  He was pro-life and believed in the sanctity of life.  During all the debates that took place, he presented his positions with eloquence and sincerity and never broke with his colleagues, even when he disagreed strongly with them.

He believed that political parties could be a broad church and a big tent, especially on issues of conscience and faith.

“John Bruton did so much more than simply give an account of himself. He changed Ireland and he changed it considerably for the better.  He changed us for the better too.”

“Today we miss John terribly and would give anything to hear his great, booming laugh one last time,” Mr Varadkar stated.

“John Bruton did so much more than simply give an account of himself. He changed Ireland and he changed it considerably for the better.  He changed us for the better too.”

Earlier, at St Peter's and Paul's Church in Dunboyne, Fr Bruce Bradley, a Jesuit former rector of Clongowes Wood College, John Bruton's alma mater, delivered the homily, describing him as honest and honourable, patient and persevering, courageous and committed.

Fr Bradley commented that anyone who know Mr Bruton was a seriously religious man and this all-important aspect of his life and self-identity was largely missing from the public commentary in tributes following his passing.

“ There is a temptation in our culture just now to ignore this aspect of people’s lives, as if it were too marginal or too private and embarrassing to bring up in public or as having too little to do with the real world,” he said.

“The truth is that he was an instinctive, reflective Catholic.  He was rooted in his faith. His life cannot be understood properly apart from that.   This was not a faith of slogans but a thoughtful faith lived out in his actions and choices, a faith that does justice, expressed in his life of public service,” Fr Bradley stated.

The Bishop of Meath, Tom Deenihan, said that  John Bruton's contribution, visible and invisible, to his parish and diocese as well as to Maynooth College and other church initiatives provided clear testimony to that faith element in his life.

Chief celebrant Fr Patrick O'Connor, PP, Dunboyne, was also joined by his predecessor, Dermot Farrell, the Archbishop of Dublin, and the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Luis Mariano Monnetmayor, as well as other clergy for the funeral Mass at Oliver and Robin Iniekio brought symbols of their grandfather's life to the altar, a family photograph and a copy of his book, 'Faith in Politics'.

Readings were delivered by daughters, Juliana Bruton-Dubois and Mary Elizabeth Bruton, while prayers of the faithful were read by Mr Bruton's siblings, Richard and Mary, Finola's sister, Caroline Gill, close friends, solicitor David Clarke, former editor of the Irish Farmers Journal, Matthew Dempsey, and former attorney general, Dermot Gleeson, and Mary Coonan, a cousin.

Bread and wine were brought in the offertory procession by grandchildren, Ophelia and Hugo Bruton-Dubois, with a reflection after communion by Emily Bruton Inieko. Artist Emily's drawing of her father was used in the Mass booklet, while in the booklet, the family thanked all for their sympathy and prayers.

Singers Finbar Wright and Lisa Lambe were accompanied by Cian Sweeney.

At Friday night's removal to the church from the family home at Cornelstown, son Matthew and brother Richard Bruton were joined by Maxence Dublis and Eibi Inieko, John's sons-in-law, as well as his cousin, Peter Robinson, and godson, John, son of Richard, in bearing the coffin into the church. The family received sympathisers for an hour on each day of the obsequies.

Receiving the remains on Friday night, Fr O’Connor described John Bruton as a “visionary” and a man committed to peace. He said John Bruton was a politician, a minister, taoiseach, ambassador, “all great achievements for the Dunboyne man who never lost touch with his roots”.

“No matter what position John found himself, he gave it his all, as a TD, as a minister, as taoiseach,” he said. “He was a great statesman, his vision for the European Union was far-seeing. He certainly was a great ambassador for the EU. Not only for the EU, but also for Ireland.”

At the church, the Tricolour, European Union and Centre Party flags were in place, and Dunboyne Yarn Bombers created a display on the village square in honour of the former TD.

Mr Bruton's remains were carried to the cemetery by gun carriage, with Sergeant Patrick O'Donoghue in char. The officer in Charge of the Colour Party was Captain Oran Harrison, with Lt Dylan Cadogan in charge of the National and Regimental Colour Party. Pall bearers wearing black arm bands marched besid ethe gun carriage and coffin, led by Lt Col Mike Hosback.

The Military Police bearer party who carried the coffin at the church and graveyard was drawn from the 2nd Brigade of the Military Police Company at Cathal Brugha Barracks, while inside the graveyard, a Route Lining Company of 100 troops, 50 on each side of the driveway, were under the charge of Comdt George Balfe carrying his regimental sword.

The Army No 1 Band led by Comdt Fergal Carroll led the slow march from the church to the cemetery.

The first piece of music played as gun carriage and cortege moved from the church was Thomas Moore's 'The Harp That Once Through Tara's Halls', arranged by Comdt Carroll. The same piece was played in the cemetery at the request of the family. This was followed by Brón, arranged by Col JR McGee. The last strain of Brón was from Down by Sally Gardens, and the third piece was 'Celtic Lament' arranged by Col J M Doyle.

Dunboyne Scouts provided a guard of honour en route to the recently extended graveyard on the Rooske Road.

At the graveyard, Finola Bruton was presented with the folded Tricolour from the coffin before the burial, after which three volleys of shots were fired by a Firing Party under the command of Lt Michael Hickey, and the Last Post and Reveille played by musicians from the 2nd Brigade Custume Barracks, Athlone, directed by Captain John Carpenter.

The funeral ended with an especially poignant moment as family members emptied scoops of clay onto the former Taoiseach's coffin in his final resting place next to his parents, Doris and Joe.